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Northwest Credit Unions lead grassroots advocacy support of S. 2155 by example

NWCUA, Northwest Christian Credit Union represent movement at news conference with senate banking chair Mike Crapo

SEATAC, WA (February 21, 2018) — In a unified show of support for legislation that will right size regulation for credit unions, the Northwest Credit Union Association (NWCUA) and Nampa, ID-based Northwest Christian Credit Union joined Sen. Mike Crapo (R -ID) at a Boise news conference Feb.20 in support of S. 2155. The Idaho Bankers Association (IBA) represented community banks at the event as well.

Despite ongoing gridlock on numerous other issues in the beltway, S.2155, The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act passed with bipartisan support out of the Senate Banking Committee, which Sen. Crapo chairs. The commonsense bill now has 26 Senate co-sponsors—13 Democrats and 13 Republicans.

“Unfortunately, community banks and credit unions across the country have long struggled to keep up with ever-increasing regulatory compliance and examiner demands coming out of Washington,” Sen. Crapo told reporters and a delegation of financial industry leaders who attended the event at the State Capitol. “In local economies, this places a strain on small businesses looking to open or grow.”

“We recognize that Congress’ initial intent when they passed the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, was to place well-intended restrictions curbing the practices of Wall Street’s “bad actors” who contributed so heavily to the economic downturn leading into the recession,” said NWCUA President and CEO Troy Stang. “But, it was always recognized during the time leading up to the recession, that credit unions and community institutions did not engage in the same practices as those Wall Street actors.”

Joining Stang in representing the Credit Union Movement was Brad Swartzentruber, President and CEO of Nampa, ID- based Northwest Christian Credit Union. He shared an example of what regulatory overreach looks like in local financial institutions.

The $55.8 million asset-sized Northwest Christian has made church loans for more than 20 years. Despite having no loses, foreclosures, or credit risks during or since the recession, Swartzentruber said, “today’s post-recession regulatory structure paints our credit union with the same brush as the regulations that are needed to oversee large, Wall Street financial institutions.” He believes if S.2155 passes, it will set a better tone and tenor for regulation of both federally-chartered and state-chartered credit unions such as Northwest Christian.

Stang and Swartzentruber praised Sen. Crapo for his leadership in garnering bipartisan support of the bill, which is making its way through the Senate.

Sen. Crapo (left), Brad Swartzentruber, President/CEO of Nampa, Idaho-based Northwest Christian Credit Union (podium) and Troy Stang, President/CEO of the Northwest Credit Union Association.

Trent Wright, President & CEO, Idaho Bankers Association, John V. (JV) Evans, III, Executive Vice President, D.L. Evans Bank, Sen. Crapo, Swartzentruber, and Stang.


About Northwest Credit Union Association

The Northwest Credit Union Association is the trade association representing more than 175 not-for- profit, cooperative credit unions in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and their 8.1 million consumer members. As not-for-profit cooperatives, credit unions look out for their members’ financial well-being. Everyone should open their eyes to a credit union.  For more information, please visit: https://yourmoneyfurther.com

Contacts

Lynn Heider
503.329.7208 | lheider@nwcua.org

Jenny Miller
jmiller@nwcua.org
208.713.9596 (Mobile)

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